FARM BILL: House Ag Chair’s Term Limits Threaten Progress

House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas has begun to suspect rumors of a two-year extension of the farm bill is just talk to slow its consideration until it can be written under different leadership.

Lucas does not intend to let the farm bill fade away, or House Republican rules to be used against him. Under the rules his term as ag committee chair will end in 2014, but Lucas plans to seek re-election that year. If the farm bill doesn’t pass, he plans to approach the Republican Steering Committee for an extension on his chairmanship – a legitimate issue that the committee would have to consider.

Even once the farm bill passes, Lucas says its implementation will be even more difficult. He plans to work with the next Ag Committee chair to oversee that step.